Safety measures on the ORR

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is gearing up to implement recommendations of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to control accidents on the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

HMDA had assigned the task of conducting a study on the increasing number of accidents on ORR to CRRI last year. Accordingly, the institute has submitted a draft report and pointed out a few issues, besides suggesting remedial measures. Among the reasons, overspeeding was said to be the prime villain. The CRRI report, according to a senior HMDA official, says many motorists were driving at speeds over 200 kmph on a few stretches.

The other reasons for the accidents included ignoring lane discipline, wrong side driving, parking at unauthorised locations and drunk driving.

CRRI wanted HMDA to install metal crash barriers and rubber studs at sharp curves among other measures to bring down the number of accidents. To install these facilities, it will cost about Rs 40 crore and to begin with, efforts are on to implement those recommendations that do not require substantial investment, the official said.

This apart, CRRI has suggested installation of signboards, speed guns to capture images of overspeeding vehicles, reflective stickers and surveillance cameras. The recommendations were mostly focused on safety measures and not on the engineering



aspects of ORR.

“They have also sought our remarks, if any, before finalising and submitting the final report, which will be out in a fortnight,” said the official.

HMDA has taken up a few measures to mitigate accidents on ORR in association with Cyberabad Police. Patrolling is intensified by providing a few patrolling vehicles equipped with different equipment like breath analysers, speed guns etc. The road safety audit by CRRI was part of these measures to ensure a scientific way of addressing road safety.

Notify speed limit as 100 kmph, HMDA officials told

Chief Secretary SP Singh directed HMDA officials to initiate measures for controlling overspeeding on ORR. During a meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority here, Singh wanted authorities to notify the speed limit as 100 kmph on ORR. Special signboards indicating speed limits should be installed at strategic locations. Emphasis should be laid on providing safety measures at different locations that facilitate entry and exit on the ORR, he said.

Singh also said efforts were on to develop a mobile app, which would disseminate information on the traffic flow on different stretches in the city. Based on the traffic at different locations, authorities can divert the traffic accordingly and the same can be notified on the app, he said.